NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION – LAGOS BRANCH
MINUTES OF THE GENERAL MEETING OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION, LAGOS BRANCH HELD ON MONDAY 13TH MARCH, 2017 AT THE FOYER OF THE HIGH COURT, IGBOSERE, LAGOS STATE
1.0ATTENDANCE
1.1Officers
1.Martin A. Ogunleye-Chairman
2. Stephen O. Obajaja-Secretary
3. Uche Ikwueme (Mrs.) -1st Vice Chairman
4.OmohafeT. Opara (Mrs.)-2nd Vice Chairman
5.Philips Njeteneh-Treasurer
6.Emmanuel Orhoro-Financial Secretary
7.Emeka Nwadioke-Publicity Secretary
8.Chinyere Obasi-Social Secretary
9.Uchenna Nwadialo-Assistant Secretary
10.Celestine Nwankwo-Asst. Financial Secretary
1.2Members
1.Abioye Akerele 2)Andrew Enakhifo
3. Layo Olugbemi 4)Wale Akoni SAN
5.Folabi Kuti 6)Saheed A. Sanni
7.Aghaonu Chris 8)Rotimi Ogunlade
9.Jeffery Eboh 10)David Anakor
11.Akinwunmi Salau 12)Declan Kedmdirim
13.Ijomah Richard Bonny 14)Adeniyi Adegbomire SAN
15.Kehinde Daodu 16)George Okusanya
17.Chioma Udeagbala 18)Oyinkan Etti
19.Ogebe Ebiega Success 20)Olabode Olanipekun
21.Alfred Akinjo 22)John Osighala
23.Amarachi Abiaziem 24)Onyekachi C. Uko
25.Egbadon Matthew 26)Dise Obafunwa
27.Osayimenee Ogbita 28)Adefolake Adewusi
29.Osarieme Anita Omonuwa 30)George Nwabueze Ochi
31. Kehinde M. Padonu 32)Anthonia Eke
33.Nwani Oge 34)Toyin Adenugba
35.Peter A. Oboyi 36)Oluwafemi E. Adeniyi
37.Nosika Omaliko Raphael 38)Godson Nwohamuo
39.ADefemi Akindare 40)Adebola Lema
41.Ade Agunbiade42)Philips N. Oyamma
43.Mike Moghalu 44)Oluwole Itemola
45.Bode Omoboriowo 46)Chimezie Victor C. Ihekweazu
47.Agu Raphael Nnaemeka 48)Johnson Amaechi
49.Ikechukwu Uwana 50)Abraham A. Jande
51.T.Y Iorse Sheriffs 52)Olubukonla Awofiranye
53.John Duru 54)Tolulope Osho – Kazeem
55.Nonso Ngonadi 56)E. K. Ukwueze
57.Jude Ejiofor 58)Geoffery Eze
59.Olumide Aju 60)Olaore C. Oluwatoyin
61.Catherin U. Onabunne 62)Nelson Ogbuanya
63.Stanley Onworeh 64)Nnamdi Oragwu
65.Ayodeji Olubunmi Awobiyide 66)Ayodeji Abisola Fasehun
67.Maryam A. Abudu 68)Yakubu Galadinma
69.Muhammed Abdulmumini 70)Abama Nwukabu
71.Adeleke Adetola 72)Moshood Abiola
73.Bamidele Ajabaluku 74)Dennis O. Akhagba
75.Iheanyi D. Eme 76)Chijioke Okoli SAN
77.Taye Latilo 78)Chigbo Anaenugwu
79.Olaolu Akintunde Owolabi 80)Nwosu Chinedu Sabinus
81. Kaduru Chimezie D.82)Adeleye S. Abiodun
83.Isioma Nwichi 84)E. A. Oyebanji
85.Sandy Diana 86)Otobong Umoh
87.M. A. Adebayo Abdulazeez 88)Megwai Ifeoma
89.Akinjeji Omolara 90)Isu Ewa Isu
91.Mutiu Ganiyu 92)Yusuff B. Bello
93. M. A. Bashua 94)Eboh Thomas Okwudili
95.Winifred Otokhina 96)Chief E. A. Otokhina
97.Rebecca Dokun 98)Ifejesu Ogunleye
99.Gbadebo G. Awogboro 100)Adebayo Oriola
101.Ahmed Shittu 102)Ogo Onyia
103.Oladitan Oluseye 104)Yinka Sunmola
105.Kelechi Onuoha 106)Tome Onabajo
107.Joseph Ekene Ndibuagu 108)Ali Jubril Abiodun
109.Okeke Chidiebere Kingsley110)Ihekweazu Ogechi Evagloria
111.Olaleye Oladimeji 112)Eziokwu A. Endurance
113.Alajuronye Obidi Cecil 114)Tamuno Atekebo
115.Peter A. Ugwu 116)Ifeatu Ihedidem
117.Mustapha O. Olanrewaju 118)Mariam Jogai Ogundeji
119.Mark Mordi 120)Ifeoma T. Odibe
121.Afam Okeke 122)Ugochukwu Vincent Okoroafor
123.Uche Obiorah 124)Gibson Elumelu
125.Martina Aguocha 126)Olamide Aiyeola
127.Ebele Oliko 128)Frank B. A. Nabena
129.Marie Ukeke – Allen 130)Okoro Gabriel Bryne
131. Nwabunike George 132)Fikayo Akintola
133.Modupe Sowho 134)Mike Idowu
135.Adefowoke Ayo – Ponle 136)Agazie Chinwe
137.Ayoade Olanrewaju 138)Tope Balami
139.Simi Shonibare 140)Onyenekwe Nkiruka P.
141.Eric Orji 142)Chukwunonso Ukamuke
143.Ayodeji Oyetunde 144)Oyedeji Olubunmi
145.Uchenna N. Ezeokeke 146)Olumide Akinnimi
147.Lotanna Nwodo 148)Chief Abudulahi Tony Dania
149.Gideon Okebu Ayobami 150)Osarieme Edokpolo
151.Femi Fajolu 152)Olatoye Akinbode
153.Ibifubara Berenibara 154)A. A. Muhammed – Mikaaeel
155.Mene – Afejuku Tosanbami 156)Irase Ohiokpehai
157.Victoria Onyinye Lawrence 158)Emmanuel Oset
159.Joshua Amusan – Giwa 160)Pius Sodje
161.Uduak Bhavnaani 162)Oluwatoyin Ale
163.Jacob Benedict 164)Anthony Atata
165.Amachree Victor 166)Anthony C. Eze
167.Henry Omu 168)Afolashade Osundosunmu
169.Olalekan Idowu 170)Somtochukwu Ifedigbo
171.Olaomi Ibukun 172)Nwanneka Michael
173.Uzoeghelu – Nzube O. Joy 174)Onyejaka Nelson C
175.Foluke Olubiyo 176)Anozie Awambu
177.Maduka Ken Nwanna 178)Eyube A. Cynthia
179.Kolawole Mayomi 180)L. Oni – Oguabor
181.Okereke Obinna N. C182)Oyoje Bello
183.Oluwaseun Alao 184)Soilo Ovia – Idariah
185.Emmanuel Bassey 186)Olumide Babalola
187.Jennifer Aburime 188)Adesina Oluwatoyin
189.Elorina Ezulu 190)Olaide Arewa
191.Felix Ogunmade 192)Bode Iranloye
193.Kayode Ajiloye 194)Ajijola Tolulope
195.Layi Arikewuyo 196)Onigbinde S. Olumayowa
197.Boniface Ekong 198)Fatai Ajibona Daley
199.Bukola Adebayo 200)Oshinubi Solomon
201.Dolapo Roberts 202)Omonigho Erhonsele
203.Goungo Patrick Oluwasegun 204)Oladipo Osinowo
205.Lanre Oyetunji 206)Azeezat Omolara Oladejo
207.Chukwuma Ezeala 208)Chief Chuks Ikokwu
209.Ugo S. Osuji 210)Onyeukwu Helen Nkiruka
211.Angela Maduagwuna 212)Wahab Ekundayo
213.Rita Okonkwo 214)Olushola M. Alamu
215.Adekunle – Fatokun Aramide 216)Uche Ajogwu
217. Henry Obinna Ezeanyim 218)Egere Christy
219.Isaac O. Dada 220)Obi Obinna Kingsley
221.Adesina R. Erewele 222)Mojisola Jaiye – Gbenle
223.Kayode Odumosu 224)Kayode Odumosu
225.Moka Nnaebuka 226)Femi Onakoya
227.Rafiat Ojule 228)Ikponmwosa Uwaifo
229.Osahon Ukponahusi 230)Bernard Ehigiamusa
231.Okwor Kenneth 232)Afolabi Araromi
233.Obianuju Ibekwe 234)Oreoluwa Omotayo
235.Oghenevo Ideh 236)Eniye Ogbebor
237.Okechukwu Nwoko238)Evelyn Agu
239.Clara Mbachu 240)Chief Guy Ikokwu
241.Tochukwu Chukwumerije 242)Richard Chukwuocha
243.Ifeoma Ben 244)Udechukwu Catherine
245.Uwala Murphy – Akpieyi 246)Chimaobi Adiele
247.Mike Ajaegbo 248)Titilola Akinlawon SAN
249.Folasade Adebayo 250)Julius A. O. Odupitan
251.Tolani Edu – Adeola 252)Ayodele Akintunde SAN
253.S. B. Onu 254)Abe Ozioko
255.Bob C. O. Ijioma 256)Lilian Eronini
257.Chief Emeka Ngige SAN 258)Pa Tunji Gomez
259.Stella Ugboma 260)Marian Jones
261.Emeka – Iloegbunam, Gerty 262)Animashaun Bolatunmi
263.Ogbonaya C. Agbafo 264)Obiora Atuegwu Egwuatu
265. Francis Anwana 266)Benjamin Odeh
267.Egbe U. Andelene 268)Ikechukwu Onodi
269.Kenneth Kelle 270)Tobenna Nnagwi
271.Mbanugo Udenze 272)Abimbola Toluwaleke
273.Abayomi Asorobi 274)Christiana O. Obinzu – Dosunmu
275.Eric Ikwele 276)G. M. Sasore
277.Kenneth Ahia 278)Onyedika Nwosu
279.Emeka Opara 280)Rowland J. C. Eneje
281.Sandra Osaruchi Ovundah 282)Kehinde Akeremale
283.Chioma Eneze 284)Chidi Ezeikpe
285.Ademola Fashola 286)Naomi Amobi
287.Temitope Sowunmi 288)Frances O. Onwunali
289.Lawrence C. Ohineme 290)Chidinma Okoronkwo
291.Oritsetimeyin Yonwuren 292)Philomena Nneji
293.E. Robert Emukpoeruo 294)Queenette Hogan
295. Esther Opaaje 296)Okolois Ehiakhamen
297.Olusanya Falana 298)Amos Ogbonnaya
299.Adesuwa Omozubi 300)Oyetola Oshobi
301.Mobolaji Kuti 302)Oluwakemi Yusuff
303.Olatunde Kolawole 304)James Segun Omoyajowo
305.Linda Adeoti 306)Oluwadamilare Ajao
307.Ikenna Onwusika 308)Adesola Falaiye
309.Ale – Daniel Olaoluwa 310)Ukamaka Okoli
311.Onyinye Chukwu 312)Olayinka Babafemi
313.Chinedu Kenna 314)Fidelis Adewole
315.Akinhanmi Idowu 316)Yeside Akinbami
317.Chuma Kenneth Akana318)Jude Ehiedu
319.Nnamdi Nwodo320)Ibukun Owa
321.Oluseun Awonuga 322)Achinivu Okechukwu
323.Laurel Imuezerua 324)Uchenna Ogiro
325.Adebowale Aluko 326)Adenike Afun
327.Olasunmbo Adejumo 328)Emmanuel Ukpai
329.Reginald Udom 330)John Justice
331.Unegbu Chinweizu 332)Almond Waive
333.Mercy Udosen 334)Dennis Ezika
335.Akoh Ocheni 336)Okey Eneh
337.Kelechi Uwanna 338)D. N. S. Torbari
339.Abdulrasheed Ibrahim 340)R. C. Maduagwu
341.Lawrence Austincoleman 342)Anthony Okplanozie
343.Kingsley Amaefule 344)Yinka Ajana
345.Omoniyi Onabule 346)Adekunle Adeniyi
347.Agbo Nwanneamaka 348)Onyekachi Asogwa
349.Oluyemisi Iwajomo 350)Ezeanochikwa Emeka
351.Glory Njoku 352)Emmanuel Ofulue
353.Olugbenga Fabilola 354)W. A. Gbadebo
355.M. J. Ongbanjo SAN 356)Gloria C. Ireka
357.Ugo Ewelaku 358)Geraldine Wey
359.Kolade T. Olawuni 360)Egeonu Gloria
361.Okwuowulu Chioma Eloamuo 362)Gbolahan Gbadamosi
363.Olumide Oyesanya 364)Carol Obi
365.Foluke Akinmoladun 366)Tara Aisida
367.Ngozi Ngonadi 368)Ehumadu Augustine
369.Hannibal Uwaifo 370)Adenike Adeniji
371.Okechukwu Unegbu 372)Oliza Azinge
373.Margaret Akpoyoware 374)Gabriel Uduafi
375.Olushola Abiloye 376)Kelechi Okwujiakor
377.Chisa Uba 378)Orji Agwu Uka
379.Ogungbe Deyon 380)Abiye Tam George
381.Okonkwo T. N. T382)Babayomi Olutumbi
383.Momodu Aliu 384)Oche Adagagan
385.Donna Obaseki – Ogunaike 386)Nwana E. Chuks
387.Umoh Augustine 388)Andrew Negbenebor
389.Umoru Milicent Joy390)Chukwuka Ikwuazom
391.Alex Muoka 392)Oyindamola Johnson
393.Adebukola Lajide 394)Adeoye Akanji
395.Anne Osho 396)Bamidele Ibironke
397.Leke Ogunbambi 398)Uchenna Eze
399.Ayo Adesanmi 400)Amaka Aneke
401.Godwin Omoaka 402)Gbenga Bello
403.Ogheaekevwe Okpobia 404)Bunmi Ibraheem
405.Colin Egemonye 406)Uba Onyema
407.Omolade Adeyemi 408)Amede Oputa
409.Ayodeji Fakolade 410)Chinwe Oduche
411.Chinwe Oduche 412)Tolu Olaloye
413.Asamah Kadiri 414)Imaobong Haastrup
415.Lawrence C. Okwara 416)Orji Mabel
417.Omotola Ishola 418)Timothy Boluwaji Akinyeye
419.Mumini Damilola Rotimi 420)Kayode Adeniji
421.Anene Nwaduke 422)Aliu Akeem Adewale
423.Emuoboaniwie Majemite 424)Anayo Agbo
425.Rudolf Ezeani 426)Fred Onyeka
427.Omobola Aiyegbusi 428)Temitope Omogege
429.K. M. Oduntan 430)Oluwatoyin Oladapo
431.Priscilla Ogwemoh 432)George U. Ukwuoma
433.Ikemefuna Stephen Nwoye 434)Lekan Dairo
435.Adewale Akande 436)Musibau Ishola Alagbala
437.Uchenna Obi 438)Tamunodepriye A Micah
439.Okeke Ijeoma Tina 440)Onwuka Ngozi Rosemary
441.Comfort Ukeje 442)Kelechukwu Uzoka
443.Hakeem Oladipo Olanrewaju 444)Innocent David
445.Honesty Eguridu 446)Rebecca D. Tanga
447.Oboku Horsefall 448)Udoh Lucy P
449.Obukohwo S. Odogon 450)Alfred Uwaka
451.David Angya 452)Rita Uloko
453.Chikanso Ezitonye 454)David Ogbe
455.Obiajulu Konwa 456)Ferguson Chioma
457.Ibitoye Nwachukwu Omotunde 458)Vivian Uwadi
459.Chinwe Mbah 460)Ifeoma Ezenwa
461.Chibuzo Ezima 462)Erimakpe Godwin Adelemon
463.Ayogu Felix Buchi 464)Oladigbolu Abidemi
465.Marcus Eyarhono 466)Festus C. Madu
467.Love Ezemegbu 468)Patricia Atuchukwu
469.Silas Momoh 470)Nduka Enweluku
471.Tony Ezeani 472)Okey Akunyili
473.Dioka Eneh 474)Oladipo Olukosi O
475.Vincent Orizu 476)Ezeikpe Sisan
477.Barth Okonkwo 478)Vincent C Obianoyi
479.Riliwanu I. Are 480)Friday Idor Okike
481.Funke Henshew 482)Harry O. Ukaejiofor
483.Olugbenga Onalaja 484)Nta Ekpiken
485.Olufunmilayo Otsemobor 486)Chitua Uzoh
487.Unekuojo Idachaba 488)Abisayo Olawale – Cole
489.Ine Arome 490)Yimika Adesola
491.Jesutofunmi Olabenjo 492)Feyijinmi Lawanson
493.A. A. Farinmade 494)Chinasa Unaegbunam
495.Babatunde Ogungbamila 496)Owhofawhoraye S. A
497.Ellias Olatunde Ajadi 498)E. M. Ihesiulo
499.Ayodeji Atere 500)Ngo – Martins Okonmah
501.Omono Blessing O. 502)Agbana Florence A
503.Peter Omolodun 504)N. T. Aideyan
505.Mabel Ekeke 506)Eresi T. Uche
507.Onyeka E. Egbunike 508)Tokunbo Olugbenga
509.Amusa Tajudeen 510)Amusa Tajudeen Adebola
511.Muoka Chinyere C.512)Alewo Etuk
513.Otu Etuk 514)Ajayi Taiwo Mary
515.Sunday G. Okpeh 516)Olumide Awobona
517.Toyin Ajeboro 518)Ndubisi Onuoha
519.Oloko Raqeebah 520)Oluwafikayomi Ogunrinde
521.Kofo Dosekun 522)Oladimeji Oju
523.Princes Nwankwo 524)Salewa Hassan – Odukale
525.Nwanta Ngozi Joann 526)Uchenna – Emezue Eyinnaya
527.Chidiebere Odoemenam 528)Banjo Vincent Kehinde
529.Ayeni – Idahosa Yeside 530)Agbebiyi Adesegun
531.Adetula Ayokunle 532)Sule M. Damian
533.Comfort Oyaniyi 534)Kerry Anakukre
535.Kafilat Umar536)Olutunfese Taiwo Margaret
537.Lawrence B. Ochulor 538)Edward O. Porbeni
539.Nkwocha Chidi Uzoma540)Jane Akpan – Udoh
541.Anne Abyem 542)Daniel Anumiten
543.Toluwalope Orumuyi 544)Temidayo Oketola
545.Sotonye Amachree 546)Tunji Adigun
547.Victor Nwakasi 548)Dania Yetunde Bilikis
549.Oluwole Okelana 550)Danlami Mohammed Awiral
551.Yetunde Zainab Alabi 552)Chimezie Onwuoma
553.Folarin A. Dalmeda 554)Odebiyi Oluwatosin
555.Chukwunonso Nweke 556)Okwuosa Chukwuka
557.Mgboji Uchenna 558)Tomiwa Ogunbanwo
559.Adeleke Alex – Adedipe 560)Sarumi Ayodeji
561.Stephen Chima Arubike 562)Mojisola John – Odulate
563.Joshua Abe 564)Fredrick Obiejesi
565.James Sonde 566)Ige Asemudara
567.Jamilu Habu Bashir 568)Shaibu Ridwan Aliyu
569.Ngozi N. Ibe 570)Opeyemi B. Ajibowu
571.Ugochukwu Ezeaba 572)Idris Hakeem
573.Christian Wogu 574)Olutoye Olufunke
575.Oguntuase Jadesola 576)Ken Etim
577.Kazeem I. A. 578)Adebisi Sanda
579.Isa Alade 580)Francis Oleghe
581.Nnamdi Ezeanochie 582)Oguike Nneka
583.Shehu Popoola Taiwo 584)Ivongbe Precious
585.Fadahunsi Bukola 586)Uhandu Chidiebere Ogbuka
587.Deborah Okemiri 588)Olusola Adegbonmire
589.Taofik Adeleke 590)Abaniwonda Kafilat Foluke
591.Anthony Nwaochei 592)Raph Amobi Chikezie
593.Ariyo Odole 594)Stephen Azubike
595.Stephen Azubike 596)Adejo Blessing
597.Patience Patrick Udoh 598)Nkechi Nnajiofor
599.Martin Agoziem Akpaka 600)A. G. Anafi
601.Chief Frank Agbedo 602)Azeez Bukola
603.Uche Wigwe 604)Ajana Mary Adetola
605.Ekanem Nakanda 606)Folasade T. Raji
607.Josiah Agbi 608)Oludare Senbore
609.Ifelowo Emmanuel Adefolarin 610)O. Cheetham West
611.Okechukwu Joachim Okoro 612)Obele Akinniranye
613.Olubunmi Fayokun 614)Oribabor Isimeme
615.Nkpubre O. N. O. 616)Chijioke Okoli SAN
617.Lady Debbie N. Obodoukwu
1.3APOLOGIES
1)Biriyai Dambo, SAN
2)Erimma Orie
3)Tunde Akinrimisi
4)Tokunbo Wahab
5)Kayode Adeluola
6)Carol Ajie
2.0Opening prayer2.1The meeting commenced at 1:15pm with the opening prayer read by Hannibal Uwaifo, the President of the African Bar Association (AfBA) who led the branch in reciting the NBA prayer.
3.0 Minutes of the Last Monthly General Meeting
3.1The Chairman reiterated the fact that hard copies of Minutes of Branch meetings have been phased out and urged members to log on to or follow with the projector as the minutes of the last meeting was considered.
3.2Chuks Ikokwu opined that the 1st Vice Chairman, who presided over the meeting, should have been addressed as Chairman in the minutes and implored the Secretariat to post the minutes on the website earlier than it currently does so that members can have enough time to consider and react to the minutes.
3.3There being no other corrections, Alex Muoka in moving the motion for adoption of the minutes however implored the Secretary to find ways to reduce the length of the minutes. The motion was seconded by Titi Akinlawon, SAN, and the minutes was accordingly adopted.
4.0 Matters Arising
4.1The Chairman before going into the matters arising proper welcomed everyone to the March, 2017 meeting and pointed out to Alex Muoka that the attendance register alone took 9 pages and that accounts for the length of the minutes these days for obvious reasons – prescription for eligibility to vote in the forthcoming Branch Elections.
4.2Head of Legal, Economic & Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos: C. J. Ozioko, the Head of Legal, EFCC represented the Head of Operations at the meeting to address the concerns of members of the Branch and their misgivings about the operations of the EFCC. He agreed that there are always issues of concern between the EFCC and Legal Practitioners in the discharge of their respective duties.
4.3He first addressed the issue of sureties and stated that once a defendant jumps bail, the surety becomes liable to forfeit security for surety as he now stands in the place of the defendant whether he is a Lawyer or not as the Law is clear and definite on that score. He said in that circumstance if it is established that the Lawyer stood bail for pecuniary gains, he will be charged to Court for perversion of Justice but if he stood surety for friends and family members he will be merely required to show course. He advised practitioners not to stand surety for money.
4.4He then said that the EFCC has a good working relationship with some Lawyers and it is ready to Partner with Lawyers who even correct them or call their attention to areas where they err. He reiterated the fact that Lawyers are men of distinction and excellence and called on some of them who do so to stop harassing the EFCC with Fundamental Human Rights Cases as soon as the EFCC extends an invitation to their clients.
4.5In interventions that followed, Mazi Unegbu frowned at the practice of requesting Lawyers to stand surety and said it amounts to intimidation. He recalled his personal experiences and questioned why a Lawyer will not be allowed into the offices of the EFCC with his/her phone. He recommended more training for EFCC operatives and advised them to be more civil in their approach to matters.
4.6Bob Ijioma expressed dismay that petitions without political undertones are not treated for years whereas the ones with political coloration are treated with dispatch.
4.7Ayodele Akintunde, SAN, gave example of Liquidators, who by virtue of their appointment are officers of the Court yet are undermined by the EFCC. He said Creditors who cannot get all they want now enlist the EFCC to put pressure on Liquidators to subvert the powers of the Court to adjudicate and control Liquidators.
4.8Lilian Eronini gave a personal example of how some senior Lawyers forged a nolle prosequi in a matter she was involved in and for many years now the EFCC could not charge the Lawyers involved to Court for forgery.
4.9Bode Omoboriowo wondered why the EFCC prosecutors have not been better than the much maligned Police prosecutors. He noted that it is most degrading to force Lawyers to stand as sureties and deposit their Call to Bar Certificates with the EFCC. He implored the EFCC to make an exception for Lawyers when it comes to the issue of leaving phones at the reception as there could be an emergency call to attend to.
4.10Marian Jones decried the attitude of the EFCC towards mediation. She said even when the parties are willing to do so the EFCC insists on Plea Bargain instead. She wondered why the EFCC is allergic to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
4.11Jeff Eboh for the umpteenth time reported and sought explanations on the unwholesome act of the officials of the EFCC who reject Court processes ostensibly because there are no hearing notices accompanying the processes even when the processes are in respect of fresh matters.
4.12Obiora Egwatu questioned the swiftness of the EFCC to freeze accounts exparte even before the conclusion of investigation and demanded an explanation on this.
4.13Ogbonnaya Agbafo pointed out that the EFCC does not follow the provisions of Section 8 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act in Criminal matters and equally sought an explanation on this.
4.14Philips Njeteneh took the EFCC to task on why they do the last thing first and do the first thing last in the course of their operations. He questioned the propriety of making details of yet to be concluded investigations public. There are cases of details of statements made before the EFCC becoming general public knowledge even before the ink with which the statement was made has had time to dry he said.
4.15 C. J. Ozioko was afforded the opportunity to address the concerns raised by members of the Branch.
4.16He explained that phones are not allowed in their offices for security reasons as there are now phones which can capture and record everything and no one will know. He apologized to all practitioners and stated that the rule is not to spite anyone but rather to aid the operational work of the EFCC.
4.17He spoke on political cases and said that the EFCC does not take only political cases but rather sifts and act early in sensitive cases involving monumental fraud. He said that the Commission isolates cases because of the volume of petitions it receives everyday and urged practitioners to cooperate with the Legal Department of the EFCC as we are all stakeholders in the Administration of Criminal Justice.
4.18On the Liquidators and Recievers issue he said the EFCC looks at the substance of a Petition and many a time an issue of Criminal liability may be couched in Civil terms so the Commission in pursuance of its statutory mandate will probe further to see if there an criminal issues for which somebody should be answerable.